06.24.08

Khaptad — situated in the midmountain region of Far-Western Nepal — lies on a plateau where the districts of Bhajhang, Bajura, Doti and Achham meet. The vegetation of the park varies from sub-tropical in the lower altitudes to temperate forest with grasslands on the Khaptad plateau with 225 square kilometer of area. The common tree species are rhododendron, chir pine, spruce, fir, maple, birch and alder. Dense stands of bamboo (nigalo), prairie flowers, and a variety of medicinal herbs occur inside the park.

The common mammals of the park are leopard, musk deer, goral, yellow-throated marten, Himalayan black bear, Himalayan tahr and langur monkey. The common bird species include Impeyan pheasant (danphe), chukor, partridge, kalij pheasant, monal, red and yellow-billed blue magpie and Himalayan griffin. A variety of colorful butterflies, moths and insects are also found here.

The core area of the park is an important religious site. The park is home to the Ashram of Khaptad Swami, a renowned spiritual saint, along with other religious areas and temples.

The forest comprise a mixture of tall fir, yew, rhododendron and oak along with dense stands of bamboo and numerous shrubs, and represents one of the last remaining such areas in the lower Himalaya. The vegetation provides a natural habitat for healthy population of wildlife, including the musk and barking deer, bears various birds including the impedance pleasant. One flower. Known as Bheeg and resembling a white rose, grows in several parts of the park. It is said to be so poisonous that single sniff from close up can be lethal !

Khaptad Swami among Nepalis, Khaptad is best known as a holy site and is closely associated with a widely revert ascetic who lived here for Mandu years and who was known simply as the ‘Khaptad Swami’. The origins and background of Khaptad Swami, who died in 1996 at the grand old reported age of 110, are shrouded in mystery. He was undoubtedly a good, learned and widely read man who also had a good command of English. He lived in a cave on the eastern side of the park to where pilgrims traveled from far and wide to see him and receive his counsel and blessings.

Khaptad national park…. really wonderful…………. a glance of real Nepal part…………….. the Photographs are realy wornderful……. Rajesh dai, thank you very very much for your effort to promote Nepali tourism………..

It has good you bring the khaptad out for every one. It is a really nice natural beautiful place. However, I felt; Khaptak is waiting for it development specially to proctact the natural enviroment. Need a big project to develop this area.

Thank you for the good photos. How and when one can visit this place? How is the security? Can single &/or couple can visit this place? Which in the good season for visit? What is the average expendiature per person?

Please answer thequestions and update the site if possible. I think all people would like to visit such a beautiful place.

Fantastic pictures.Women from Bajhang in their traditional dresses, Dhamis’ deuda and the man from Doti in the traditional dress are especially impressive and important from anthropological viewpoint.Culture of Karnali region of the local Khas or Khasa people must be saved before it’s lost forever.Well done.

AFTER SEEING THESE PHOTOS GRIJA WILL RESIGN, PRACHANDA WILL BE PRESIDENT AND JHAL NATH JEE…………….PAKH PAKH BAITHAK BHOLI

TODAY WE ARE GOING TO DECIDE WHO WILL BE WHO AND WHO WILL BE LEFT BEHIND,,…I AM NOT SATISFIED, OK SEE YOU TOMORROW,

TODAY WE ARE GOING TO DISCUSS ABOUT THE SHAKTI BAD FAT AND BECAUSE WE HAVE WON THE MAJORITY WE SHOULD GET 80KG OUT OF 100KG TODAY CONGRESS UNHAPPY, OK PAKH PAKH BHAIHALCHHA NI, BICHARA NIRDOSH NEPALI HARU KE GARNU JATA,,,,,,,,,,,,UTAI

Hats off to Phalano and Bhoj Raj for briging these awe-inspiring images for all of us. I appreciate Phalano’s effort to bring remote places like Khaptad in front of national and international viewers. Kudos!

BHOJRAJ JI THANK YOU FOR BRINGING OUT BEAUTIFUL PICTURES OF AROUND THE KHAPTAD. BEAUTIFUL NATURE LAND OF NEPAL. I ALSO LIKE TO SEE MUGU . CAN YOU PUT THE PICTURE OF MUGU PLEASE?
THANK YOU.
S. LAMA TAMANG
BRANFORD CT USA.

Heaven in Earth. Please for the sake of future generation we need to save these place. Great work Rajesh ji ,Something different from dodgy politics going on the country at the moment. Again thank you very much, keep it up. May god bless you.

Interesting Picture ! I like it. I remember my home farwest, sorrunding Khaptad, Triveni, Deuda, Hudkya and Local cultural programme. Though, we people are poor in wealth but we are rich in our cultural. We should have preserve our cultre. In NEW NEPAL, our leader should think over it.
Lastly, Thank u very much MR BHOJRAJ BHAT driviing us Khaptad area.

Thank you very much Bhojraj sir.you had really captured the natural beauty of our country. hope we can make a future exploiting such natural beauty by developing it as a tourist destination. i really appreciate your endeavour.

these pictures remind me of my childhood and Nepal.
you realise it when you are far from Nepal.
I miss Nepal, Nepali culture & Nepali music.
Now onwards i will also try phptography.
These photograph influenced me too.
It’s mindblowing ,lovely and heart touching .
And it’s explanation is simply the best.
keep the good work going on.
good luck, thanks

I always felt that that there was tremendous potential to improve the tourism sector in western nepal. Through experience I know that there were not any infrastructure for tourist back in 1993; but I though it might have improved by now after 15 years. There are other places in western part of the country like Sargadwari (gateway to heaven) which is a days trek from Dang Gorahi or Jwalamukhi which is also a days trek from Surkhet. These are important religious sites for the hindus too, but unfortunately like Khaptad, there is no basic infrastructure for tourist. If you do not carry your own ood or lodging, you literally have to bed from the villagers, and though these villagers are normally helpful, it is the lack of resources at these harse places that forbids them from helping the passerbys.

I totally agree witht the writer when he says that the government should build some basic infrastructure there like several large shelters and provide hot food at reasonable prices, or open up places in Khaptad for the private sector to invest in. When the late king Birendra let the swami live within the national reserve which then became famous for its religios importance, he had already deregulated the area; at least the government should build some basic structure that would abide by the laws of environment protection and hlep preserve religous pilgrimage or tourism.

Thanks to Mr Bhojraj Bhat for all the beautiful pics and PHALANO.COM too. The pics are really impressive and informative. Good job indeed! Keep it up. And would like to suggest you to vist Pathivara of Taplejung once and capture some beautiful pics. Most of the people don’t know abt it, hopefully it would be the great idea to know/share about pathivara taplejung.

Thank you for the good photos. How and when one can visit this place? How is the security? Can single &/or couple can visit this place? Which in the good season for visit? What is the average expendiature per person?

Please answer thequestions and update the site if possible. I think all people would like to visit such a beautiful place.

As i am from the Accham but i have not visit the khaptap yet, but coz of this photo i thought that i am in Khaptad really a nice picture thaks to bhojraj ji try to get the picture of Rama roshan that is also a beautiful place good job bhoj raj g, if you have your e-mail id or phone number please send me.
my e-mail id is namastenepal77(at)yahoo.com

the geography of the place looks like a suitable place for golf courses, how about developing golf courses which will bring in tourists and help the economy of our country, thank you bhojrajji for the pictures

amazing pictures!
we are blessed with beautiful places all around. khaptad is one of them and i am proud to be part of it as i am also from Bajhang. These pictures brings back the memory of me visiting this shrine place long time ago. i have to say i was really impressed with this location which is surrounded by four districts Doti, Bajhang, Bajura and Acham. it is god gifted naturally. khaptad will remain in my heart forever. Thank you for highlighting!

Respected reader/viewers,
Actually, I have more than 4 GB photo on Khaptad. I am really happy by getting such type of feedbacks. You can go to Khaptad easily. There is no risk. But you should manage tent and foods by yourself. Because, inside Khaptad area, there is no hotels but we can find some cowsheds and Gothalas there. You can eat local meat and drink milk and fresh water. I hope you will go to khaptad at least one time in your life. If you have any query, plz phone me or mail me. I am ready to give answer.

Wonderful!!! fanastic photoes!!! Thank U very much for the real natural taste of real paradise in Nepal. Expect more photoes of the vigin areas of western part of Nepal. As all os us know that the western part of the nation is still unexplored, due to lots of central /rulers reasons.

Bhoj Raj Ji,
Thank you so much for posting these wonderful pictures from Far Western. I really apppreciate it. I was more than happy to see my Far Western, it really remind me my village N people there. I would be happy if you post some picture from Darchula, Baitai, Dadeldhura also.

Mr. Bhat: You have done a marvelous job. Reminds all the people who view your post about gorgeous Nepal, makes us see those innocent faces, with rich culture.
I hope your effort will shade some lights as to develop the region for tourist attraction.
Thank you again for the post.

Being from Bajhang, one of the sides of Khaptad, among others I also like to thank you for promoting this holy and the majestic place, and the place of our national bird “Daphe” and national flower “Lali-Gurash”, through photo-blog. Thank you. Joshi

Many many thanks for unveiling the majestic beauty of Khaptad in such an impressive way. I wish to visit Khaptad next year and like to know the best season or month to visit that place. You have mentioned that people from sourrouding areas flock to that place during Ganga Dashahara Mela.

Bhoj Raj Bhat jee deserve thanks for introducing Khaptad, holy site and prospective tourist paradise, to the outside world. Although I am from Doti but had never realised its prestine beauty which I could notice from the pictures. Its a wonderful land ………and people are still untouched by the modern civilazation.

I remembered my travel to Khaptad. I am really happy seeing these photographs. I’am proud of being Nepali and Dotel. Thanks again for unvailling my beautiful place. I think, there is missing photographs of “KHAPTAD DAHA” and “DAFE KOT”. If you have these photographs, Please add them in this site. I’am waiting for that.

thank you for your amazing presentation to the incredibal khaptad. I hope you explore more and more potentials of Nepal in different walks of the life. I again thank you for your dazzling outcome and efforts made.

Well Done .Really you are doing GREAT . This time once again ,your fantastic work really impressed me .I also plan to visit KHAPTAD once while i get time and chance in future .
I am saluting you for your success in Journalism and also bring out the heritage ,culture & hideen natural beuty of our country .

Dear Friends,
who are especially from far western i would like to request to make the fund for Bhojraj G, so that in future also he will expose our Suder Paschim in front of the world in same way this is the great job done by Bhoj Raj G and i think we all must appriciate for his great job.

Bhoj Raj G, please send me your accout number

I am ready to contribute 5000 from my side.
So that you will continue to expose our loving Suder Paschim.

It seems that not only you but I myself have been there. Thanks for the great work. If fact the western Nepal is lagging behind in development. But there such places which is unveiled here. Publishity of such places is essential for the promotion of tourism which will ultimately pave the path of development. Its a great work of you to be around Khaptad and sharing the experiences with the site visitors by means of your word and pictures. Despite all the problems you faced there regarding lodging, fooding, and even of drinking water, it seems an adventerous.

At least photographers and reporters are trying their best to potray Nepal as a beautiful paradise by inserting the amazing pictures. Maybe political leaders of the country should start thinking about representing the country in the same manner instead of fighting with each other for power.

Good Job Bhoj Raj jee,
Very good and useful info about Khaptad, Lots of people does not know about it. Thank you for this news. Pls keep it up.
And, if u get a chance; pls go to BADI MALIKA. As u know ,that is another great place to go and get info about.

Bhoj Raj Ji ,
It is really nice job, Thanks for making news of our backward calture and our hidden heaven places. We all wesrern people are feeling so proud and we have to constribute even little something to upward our society.

The photographer did an excellent job to display nice pictures of Khaptad National Park. The khaptad area has a great potential to be developed as a ski resort in Nepal with its rolling hills. However, the religious and cultural values should not be disturbed from the development of this area.

I had the privilage to visit Khaptad National Park ten years ago, and found that West Nepal has many areas of natural beauties such as Rara lake, Phoksundo Lake, and Dhorpatan.

More informations about Khaptad National Park can obtained from Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation located at Babar Mahal, kathmandu.

thanks for letting us see the beauty and serenity of Khaptad area through your lenses……….Good on you mate………..

I was on Silgadhi sometime on 1999 i guess, and we even thought of going to Khaptad but as you said due to the lack of basic infrastuctures and not so good security situation of the country then we gave up the idea..but now seeing the pictures i really regret that…

Thanks Mr. Bhatta
Really the Khapdad is a natural beauty, a part of heaven situated in the center of four districts. it is called like a roof the far western Nepal. thanks a lot Mr. Bhoj fot the promotion its beauty to every one.More hopping your best efforts in the coming future…..

Hi hojraj sir
im Madhav from bangalore
You are the only great person to the growing hill site of nepals khptad place
really i love the place and thank you for Mr bhojraj ji plese add some more places like this.

woderrful pictures remind my childhood when I visited Khaptad and had darshan of khaptad swami as a student of Satyavadi high school Bajhang way back in 1966. Khaptad is real Shagrilla, unexplored, untapped and yet a heaven on earth. Thanks Bhoj Rajji, for bringing Khaptad into limelight.
All who love Khaptad should advocate and lobby to develop khaptad as no. 1 tourist destination.
padma singh
Arkansas, us

KHAPTAD is the blend of spiritual and natural beauty and the beauty of KHAPTAD cannot be described in the words. but due to the lack of proper infrastructures it has not easy access. It is embarassing fact for all nepalese that, the region where KHAPTAD belongs is the least developed area of Nepal. It is obvious fact that this region can be developed with the proper utilization of its own resources so it is petrify challenge for us to make recognition of the places like KHAPTAD and at the same time Golden oppertunity to develop the whole region. The attempt which you have made through “PHALANO”is genious and I wuold like to suggest you to discover the areas like “KHAPTAD” which reflects the beauty of Nepal which may prove to be the door of development of this region. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I am from Mahendranagar (Kanchanpur). I have hurt a lot of things about Khaptad and khaptad Baba. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to visit this heaven but I anticipate visiting in a near future. As you described about the magnificent beauty, Tradition and posted an marvelous pictures of Khaptad in such an impressive way. I really appreciated about your job, and Proud to be a Nepalese.
Keep it up …………!

Bhoj Raj ji, you have done wonderful work to expose Khaptad. But Ke garne! Nepal as a whole is going to be under India. Main players of seven parties are being used by India and they will hand over Nepal to India. They do not care about our soverigenty and liberty. They are simply killing Nepal and Nepalese people. They will not allow Nepalese people know this fact with various pretience.
Thanks for your work.
Little Ramesh

I tried my best to promote Khaptad since 1997, but never succeded. I took several Ameerican and European tourist groups there, but never got good compliments from them. Unfortunately Khaptad does not have much to offer to Europeans and Americans, they rather enjoyed Ramkot and Surma Sarobar region of Bajhang District. Because from Ram Kot and Surma Sarobar region one can get heart alluring views of Western Himalayas.

Badi Mailika in Bajura is much rewarded destination in Far west Nepal we took few groups there and got great compliments.

Khaptad may be a place for locals. I spent there long time as a curator and Naturalist. Also I did estensive geological mapping in Khaptad region. Less as a tour operator but more as a geologist I did some important discoveries there.

Bhoj Raj Ji,
Thank you, I visited this place first in 1991 and then many more times, meeting the Khaptad Baba on a few occations. I was sadened learning of his death in 1996. Looking at your photos brought tears to my eyes. It brought me back to a very wonderful time. Keep up the great work!

It was really nice to see the picture. Thank you. It really touches my heart as the womwn see in this picture represent, but as a women there is a sentiment, passon, pride, culture represent Nepal. Thank you once agian for the nice picture. Again, the passion, red dress symbole, we nepali women; we always fight from our side may be not as a soldier in battle field, but always supporting them( those soldier) as a love of mother as sister as lover as friend. always making them proud. we can see lots of nepali women just give love and take care family for those husban. we may abord for other country as gorkha or other way….we nepali our sign, present our love towards as nepali women as peace….and thanks for the other natural picture, Please keep the Good work………….Thank you

God! The pictures of Khaptad reminded me what a beautiful place my home is. After looking at these pictures, I remembered my first and only trip to Khaptad when I was 15 years old. I loved this place then, and I love this place now. Go Khaptad! Go!

Very nice snaps bhattaji. but it would be mere beautiful if u had stayed there 1 more days and take few more snaps like Khaptad Daha, Danfekot, Patans, and some birds like Danfe, and flura and funa of Khaptad. anyway it was really a good job

Hats off and a grand salutaion to the photographer, Bhojraj Bhatt, I really don´t have any words to explain the beauty of Nepal, increedible Nepal, as the picture herein explains more than enough. Plz let me know where u learned photography its really important to see the best things out of the worst, which u had snapped down. I wish all Nepalese Citizen should have the same vision as you have, best out of worst.

Well done Bhoj Raj ji, ya really good job , There are many places in nepal to attract internal as well as external tourism ,,ya , now i am in Bajhang district hospital and i am planing to visit this place soon .These pictures made me more curious to be there .. ok thanx a lot …

I never heard about this place before. By reading above your article Bhoj Raj ji, I am really fascinated to get out there in one day. It sounds like ravishingly a breathtaking place. i am such a wild animals lover I wish you would sticked a few photoes of these animals and birds in here” never mind it’s just my passsions”i really admired for these people of unique lifestyles and they are still keeping a live of thier traditional inklings

HI
thanks to a person who has published the information about this palce ..its really magnificiant ..as per my grand ma and grand pa we are from accham …and they use to tell us the story about khapdad baba and the place how beautiful and magical itis …and because of you guys i got a chance to see the picture of kaptad and its truly seems like a magical place ….if i every get a chance to come to nepal i will definetly try to visit this place…its really really beautiful thanks for giving us a apportunity to get to know about khaptad

another brick in the wall for the development of eco-tourism and sustainable tourism, i heard about kaptad but never been there..hope i will be there one day with little effort to contribute local and development of tourism
thanks for your vigorous efforts and vision to bring out in media. it is really enchanting scene and land scape that anyone can be lured by its’ beauty.

Amazing pictures. Its really natural and reflects the picture of our villages and their tradition. we should feel very proud that we have numbers of natural beauties with viries of traditions in Far western region.

Thanks to Bhoj ji for carry out this beauties to the local and global arena.

thanks a lot
for giving so much information. we have so many nice places in bajhang that i dont know.; infact i am from bahjang but live in delhi.
ilov the place . lets make handtogether to make the place well known and in good condition to attract the tourist.
so please send me mail what we have to do to do more progress for bajhang
bharat b dhant

hi
u have done a greatjob
i had also visit the Khapatad its really great and i sugest to all the viewer to go and visit the land of queen khapatad and bojraj ji i have some of the pic of khatapad if u needed then i will mail u

khaptad is a beautiful place.i belong to the same region n wanna suggest nature lover’s to visit that place coz its heaven.i think no one has seen the heaven but when we reach there we feel like we are on heaven.switzerland is known as the most beautiful place i haven’t seen it only watched in pitures but i have been to khaptad n i think its the most beautiful thing i have ever seen.its not that im promoting my place,m sayin so coz its really very beautiful.
if anyone likes to be to far western part of nepal u can contact me through the mail,ill be ready to help what i can.
ill be happy to hear from all u
have a great time
kavin….

We recently visited Khaptad .It was loads of fun.We felt abit unfortunate we went there in winter and was filled with snow.A whole day walk on snowy way made was so tired that we felt as if we have conquered the world itself.
Though it was not in our fortune to see the flowers and vegetation of khaptad ; we enjoyed its snowy beauty.
I too realized the fact that the local of khaptad are not interested in its promotion.It is hard to get food and place to sleep after u leave Silguri.You can’t get proper and enough food elsewhere nearby khaptad.

But I feel very gald to say that the army camp and its brigade members are really very helpful and understanding.Thanks to the help and assistant we received from them . They are really very friendly and helpful people .They bestowed us the food and proper knowledge about khaptad and its periphery.

Though we didn’t get proper fooding and accomodation , We are happy that its potent senic beauty and its sorrounding made us forget every hurrdles in reaching it.
I would recommend all of the visitor to go khaptad atleast once in urs life .It is worth going there and seeing the hidden beauty of the earth.
Your extra effort on arranging the fooding and accomodation would give additional pleasure to yours trip.

We have fortunately captured the most magnificent picture of khaptad of winter season . We will update it very soon.

hi,
firstful thank u Bhoj raj Bhat ji,now i’am in koea but i remember every time of khapad bajhang in this place develop my life and childhood. Khaptad is only one nice place in world. thank u every body byeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Nabraj bhattarai, Pouwagadi-8 bajhang
now, soual ansan city korea.

Bhoj great work!!!I m really proud of u. U really done a great work to introduce Khaptad with lovely and meaningful pictures. Khaptad is a heavenly place on earth…..We (men/women) must visit Khaptad once in their lifetime. I have travelled many parts of Globe but I couldn’t found such heavenly place anywhere….

Note: I had visited Khaptad long time back and worked with plants – Herbs from 1980-1981.

Not only the Nepal’s great Cartoonist You are equally a Great Photographer and Columnist. Congratulation for your innovative Works. Thank You for Letting us to know about the virgin Haven of the earth i. e.The Khaptab Area. Through Visiting this Page I am so excited going to manage some days Probably During April-May For Khaptad.

Nameste Bhojraj/Well done on this article , I am living in South Africa and still find the African cultures have some tradition in it but never expected my Indian heritage will be so colourful as well .Off course we do practice our tradions here but never expected it to be OH so rich . Khaptad will be my place to visite when doing my India tour …. Great Work once again ..Shabash shahabash … mooi prente en tydskrifte .

its make me so grateful that In nepal also there is such a beautiful place.some of the place can be compare with other world like switzerland, America,UKetc. its the place like a heaven so me & my some of the guys are making a plane to visit khaptad within this april 2011,after onwards i will be easy to say how is khaptad.So thanks for guiding us a such a beautiful place bhoj ji thanks again
Shankar Shrestha

its make me so grateful that In nepal also there is such a beautiful place.some of the place can be compare with other world like switzerland, America,UKetc. its the place like a heaven so me & my some of the guys are making a plane to visit khaptad within this april 2011,after onwards i will be easy to say how is khaptad.So thanks for guiding us a such a beautiful place bhoj ji thanks again

Thanks phalano.com for providing almost complete information in systematic way. The photos and the information related to the Khaptad national Park as well as Far Western region has have great worth for the promotion of tourism in far western region. Recently I have visited KNP but could not get the time to see all the natural beauty of KNP and I feel hunger to see more about KNP……… Phalano.com provided such chance. If you can keep more information about Khaptad Baba, it could be more interesting……Once again thanks ……hope the job will be continued

Awesome and beautifully captured…….
My own native-land coming back to past-life….it’s really peace and land of lords…..
Thanks for Phalano.com and entire crew…..To remind me those days when i used to look after Bheda bakhra in Khaptad and again made my tears come recognizing my old dosts….

I am so glad to know the Tourism and Hospitality industry development possibilities in this place I want to put my effort on this place. And I hope all of us can do little things to change in great value of our Nepal publishing this place as a perfect destiny of Tourism. If you all guys from abroad wants to renown ourselves lets join our hands together and start doing project works from all sector which you are capable from your strength.